DE&I: The Dimensions of Mental Health

May is mental health awareness month.
Mental health is not one dimensional, everyone must manage it and it’s certainly not something to be taken lightly. In fact, there are 8 dimensions of wellness which can have a significant impact on our mental health. These 8 dimensions are physical,emotional, occupational, environmental, social, spiritual, intellectual and financial. A brief definition of each is provided below along with some points to consider.
Physical wellness is healthy activity, nutrition and adequate sleep - many of us are aware of what it takes to start and continue wellness along this realm, but what about the other dimensions of wellness?
Emotional wellness as defined by SAMHSA is the ability to cope effectively with life and build satisfying relationships with others - you are confident, control of your feelings and behaviors and able to handle life’s challenges.
Occupational wellness is a sense of satisfaction with your choice of work - it is work/life balance. How do you think this influences your mental health?
Environmental wellness takes into consideration your social and natural surroundings.
Social wellness is a sense of belonging.
Spiritual wellness is your core values and beliefs that give you purpose in your life.
Intellectual wellness is when you seek out ways to use your knowledge and skills.
Financial wellness is feeling satisfaction about your financial situation - this is a big stressor for a lot of people and families.
If you’d like to see where you fall in each of these categories, complete this personal
wellness assessment. Please allow 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Your results will be
emailed to you within 24 to 48 hours